Panna National Park

Panna, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India

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Madhya Pradesh

Panna, Khajuraho

Panna National Park

Explore Panna National Park

Being located in the northeast of Madhya Pradesh in the Panna and Chattarpur district, it is a national reserve specially designed for tigers. The nearest flowing river to this park is river Ken. The nearest stations to this national reserve are Panna and Khajuraho. From Panna the journey becomes of 25 km, and from Khajuraho, it reduces to 16 km. The park encompasses an expanse of 542.667 acres lying mostly on the northern tip of the natural teak forest and the eastern tip of the natural Kardhai forest in Madhya Pradesh. To keep the animals from extinction, the park also has major governing bodies to protect it. The including governing bodies are the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, and Forest and Project tiger Madhya Pradesh.

In 1994, this reserve was announced as the twenty second Tiger Reserve of India, being fifth in Madhya Pradesh itself. However, in 2009, a major man-made disaster (i.e. Illegal poaching) devastated the place here, and gave a drastically resulted in voiding the entire tiger population. Henceforth, today it is only the chunk of wildlife habitat left in Madhya Pradesh. Though, this was genuine that the decline of tiger population was reported several times from here, but nobody took any strong action towards it. However, when the site got too critical at the period of time, then the decision of relocation of two female tigers from the Bandhavgarh national park and Kanha National Park was done in March 2009. Also, a committee was established to count after the tiger’s number.

Eventually, this park faced to down many a times in succeeding year, but the year 2009 proved to be a fateful year for the tiger population in this park. During the year, it was reported that only 2 tigress was left from 40 tigers. Thus, looking the criticality of the situation, 2 tigers were allocated to this park to bring some ups in the tiger population. However, in the next 2 years 10 were observed from the act of allocation.

Therefore, in history, the park became the second to lose all the tigers, but first to achieve first ever-breeding success in reproducing wild and orphaned semi- wild tigers. Resulting the achievements, this park was awarded as the best maintained and tourist friendly national park of the country by the ministry of tourism and government of India, on 25 January 2007.

Best time to visit Panna National Park

If you are imagining that you can come here any day of the year, then you are highly mistaken. The park is only open in certain months and has precise timings.
First lap: The first lap of the national reserve starts on 16th October and run till 31st January. The timings of the lap are 06:30 am to 11:00 am, and 02:30 pm to 05:30 pm.
Second lap: The second lap of tourism starts from 16th February to 31st March, and the solicited timings are 06:00 am to 10:30 am, and 03:00 pm to 06:00 pm.
Third lap: Finally, the third lap start from 1st April to 30th June, and timings are 03:30 pm to 07:00 pm.
However, it is suggested that the best time to visit here is from January to May because the animals are quite visible predating and escaping. Also, if you are visiting with a huge group, then make sure the animals are not disturbed and scared. The animals can eventually prey you, if you are blowing horns, carrying firearms and teasing animals. It is also strictly restricted to drive fast, smoke midway and carry plastic or other non-biodegradable materials with you. The last and the most important thing is, if you are caught doing any crime in the park, then the consequences may be very harsh because the offenses in the park are dealt in accordance with wildlife protection act 1972.

If you are a keen observer of Mother Nature and very much fond of visiting such places, then you will not be having any shortage in the facility of staying. You can locate many hotels and resorts, which are available in the areas nearest to the park. You can even book them online with your trip advisor to make your expedition hassle free and fun filled.

An exquisite eco friendly jungle hideaway set in a lush tropical rainforest. Rustic themed cottages in indigenous architecture beside a frolicking jungle stream, splendid tropical birds on overhanging branches, colourful butterflies and the insistent chatter of cicadas, the powerful throb of nature is the only clock you will need here.

Fauna at Panna National Park

This national park harbors many species of animals like tiger, chital, chinkara, Nilgai, Leopard sambhar, wolf, Gharial, blue bulls and sloth bear. Besides these, some other animals like porcupines, chowsingha and ßIndian fox are frequently sighted here. However, the reserve is not just limited to animals only, but it is also a home of a large species of birds as well.. Lately, in the same park a separate sanctuary for Gharial has been set up. Therefore, with a high density of Paradise Fly catchers compounded with the picturesque scenery, the rich Avain and final life makes a visit to the park memorable.

Flora at Panna National Park

The topography of the region shows one of the deep gorges here at the Panna Tiger Reserve. If plan your visit here in the monsoon, then you will find the area lush green haven with cascading waterfalls. Here, the annual range of rainfall is considerably very high, hence the forest holds an extensive stretch of Saul. The sal trees here are highly appreciated by the tribes for its good quality timber, leaves and fruits, which also have high nutritional and medicinal value. The other trees cascading here are crocodile bark, terminalia arjuna, terminnalia chibula, axle wood (Dhaoda), Labernum, Baja, etc.
These trees have been used for a number of purposes especially by the existing tribes there. For example the Dhaoda tree is used for making charcoal and agricultural implements. Labernum, which blossoms in the dry season render a glorious sight to the forest, when it is blossoming? Despite of the evergreen trees like Mango, Black Plum, and Bamboo, the tall luxuriant tree Mahuwa are also a part of the flora of this park. Its flowers are consumed as food as it is also a very dependable source for popular liquor, which is sometimes referred to as the Nectar of the immortals. For the herbivore population, the rolling meadows of grass and grassy plateau seasonally becomes an entire part of the heath. Also along with seasonal streams and in the Ken river valley, Lush green vegetation does make the area a beautiful place to spend time on.

Experience Panna Jungle Safari

Being near to the nature is one of the most fantastic things to get along. It is supposed that Nature heals all the wounds, but what if you visit this national park and besides feasting your eyes with the lush nature. Therefore, you will not only view the wild greens, but you also get to experience the wilderness as well. Very often you might be complaining about not seeing animals like tiger, and chinkara close to your eyes. However, till today, you would have viewed them only in the discovery channel, but now you can watch them close to you if you visit the Panna Tiger Reserve here in Madhya Pradesh. You can watch all those wild animals with your naked eyes that you just watched on television and read in books. Also, you can click their pictures to keep as memorabilia of the days of the thrill and excitement you lived here. In fact, if you get lucky, then you can definitely harbor the situation of the animals preying, mating and performing their ecstasy in the park. Thus, once in life, you must get hold of a safari to Panna Tiger Reserve. The experience of knowing, how a park, which was left with only two tigresses once is now having a plethora of wildlife will be unique in itself.
The safari available to reach into the heart of the reserve can be performed with a jeep or elephants. The crowding terrains with extensive plateaus and gorges will be adventurous while riding a jeep or a back of elephant. So, if you are planning your trip to this tiger reserve then you are certainly very lucky to witness the lush vegetation, wildlife and heart throbbing sights. However, to add a flavor, you can even visit the Bandhavgaarh National Park and Kanha National Park, which are simultaneously famous for white tigers and swamp deer.

If you are travelling to the Panna Tiger Reserve, then it is a wise decision to visit here through wildlife packages as with them you can be guided in the best way about the area and its wildlife along with other important information. The packages available are weekend package, Panna with Khajuraho package, and Golden Triangle with wildlife and Ganges package. However, the best transport medium to reach the Panna Tiger reserve is defined below:

How to reach Panna National Park

Air: Khajuraho is the nearest airport to the reserve. By reaching the airport, you can choose plenty of other mediums to travel down till Panna as the journey becomes short of only 37 kms from there.

Rail: At a length of around 90 kms from Panna Tiger Reserve, Satna becomes the closest railhead. You can easily find suitable trains heading to your destinations.

Road: You can also arrive in the national reserve by bus. The nearest bus stand to the reserve is Panna, which is very easily linked to all the major cities of Madhya Pradesh. So, you will not face any difficulties regarding the mediums travelling to Panna Tiger reserve.